Oscar winning actor Ben Affleck and Rolling Stone rock legend Mick Jagger have collaborated on a short film to raise awarness for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the work of the UN Refugee Agency.
The PSA was created for the United Nation's Gimme Shelter campaign (which explains the song used, it was actually donated by Mick Jagger!) The footage was shot on Affleck's most recent trip to the North Kivu region of eastern Congo - the epicenter of fighting between rebel and government forces that resumed in August.
In addition to raising awareness, the Gimme Shelter campaign hopes to raise $23 million in 2009 for emergency humanitarian assistance kits to help displaced persons in the DRC.
Affleck's best bud Matt Damon is also using his influence in the film industry for a good cause; his documentary Running The Sahara premieres on Showtime on Sunday, January 11 at 9pm. The film chronicles the efforts of Damon and others to raise awareness of the water crisis in Africa. Braving extreme elements and meeting the unique people of the Sahara who struggle daily, the men were filmed running over 4,300 miles from the Atlantic coast of Senegal to the Red Sea in Egypt. It should make for an interesting documentary.
via TakePart and Look To The Stars
